(Milw County) Sheriff David Clarke: Residents should arm themselves, 911 not best option

Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. set off alarm bells Friday with a radio spot some view as a call for citizens to arm themselves.

<Snip>

"You could beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back."

Clarke urges listeners to take a firearm safety course and handle a firearm "so you can defend yourself until we get there."

"You have a duty to protect yourself and your family. We're partners now. Can I count on you?"

The spot aired at least once - during the last hour of the Mark Belling (conservative talker who has sometimes subed for Limabugh) show on WISN-AM (1130) on Thursday. Clarke spokeswoman Fran McLaughlin posted it to the department website on Friday. She said she did not know where else or how often the spot would be broadcast, or how much the department spent to air it.

9. Law enforcement can arrest the intruder you have cornered with your weapon...

or catch him running down the street by following the blood stream after you shot him. But they can't get there in the few minutes it takes for a criminal to break in and kill you. YOU are your first front of protection.

5. This is what some just do NOT understand

8. So true.

Some people expect to call 911, when someone is breaking in, and stand there (or hide there) and wait to be saved. No responder can get to the scene fast enough to save you. You have to save yourself, to the best of your ability. Whether it's by running out the back door, hiding in a closet, or facing the intruder with a weapon if you're cornered.

There is no white knight on a horse out there. Even if there were, horses aren't that fast.

10. I just love this vid

12. If your only option is to wait 5-10+ minutes for a cop to show up it's time to get more options.

Remember that if you have a gun you're still not committed to using it - it's just another option since you can still hide or try to run. If you have no other options than to wait for someone else to defend you, then you ARE committed to waiting or fleeing (I hope you have access to an escape route and are a good runner!).

I vote for hiding WITH a gun... then again, I always was a camper when we played video games.

14. Believing that the police/sheriff can respond to protect you from crime -

- is pretty much the same as believing in Santa Claus. It's impossible to fly through the sky and visit every house in one night. It's also impossible to know when a crime will occur and magically be there to prevent it.

Law enforcement merely reacts to an existing situation and it takes time for them to react. The truth of the matter is that there is no one to protect us. We must be ready to protect ourselves and plan accordingly.